Aloe plant named ‘AMIAL1605’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Aloe aristata  cultivar named ‘AMIAL1605’ which is characterized by a flattened globular plant shape, a short plant height, ovate foliage with an acute to broadly acute apex, and a short caudate tip dark green mature foliage with a moderately dense occurrence of prominent white papillae on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Aloe aristata.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Aloe disclosed herein hasbeen given the variety denomination ‘AMIAL1605’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2015/1965, filed Aug. 11, 2016, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIAL1605’ originated as a naturally occurring, whole-plantmutation of the species Aloe aristata (not a named variety or cultivar,unpatented). In February of 2012 the inventor discovered the mutation ata commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands, growingamongst a crop of the species Aloe aristata. The mutation was noted forits prominent white papillae on the foliage and was subsequentlyisolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness andstability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation ofdistinctness and stability, ‘AMIAL1605’ was selected forcommercialization in the summer of 2014.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘AMIAL1605’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in thesummer of 2015 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard,The Netherlands. The claimed plant has since been asexually propagatedby way of meristematic tissue culture propagation. Through foursubsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have provento be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIAL1605’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘AMIAL1605’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘AMIAL1605’ as a new and distinct Aloe aristata cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMIAL1605’ exhibits thick succulent foliage, arranged in a        basal rosette, with a flattened globular profile and a shorter        overall plant height; and    -   2. ‘AMIAL1605’ exhibits foliage that is slightly curved upward,        with innermost whorls of foliage appearing to be more loosely        held; and    -   3. ‘AMIAL1605’ exhibits ovate foliage with dentate leaf margins,        an acute to broadly acute apex, and a short caudate tip; and    -   4. ‘AMIAL1605’ exhibits dark green mature foliage with a        moderately dense occurrence of prominent white papillae on both        the adaxial and abaxial surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘AMIAL1605’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, TheNetherlands. This plant is approximately 9 months old, shown planted ina 15 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘AMIAL1605’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage ‘AMIAL1605’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘AMIAL1605’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in October of 2016describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 9 months old‘AMIAL1605’ plants grown in 15 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Aloe which consisted ofminimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, and chemical pest anddisease control measures against mealy bug and Botrytis as required.Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade after propagationand later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. Nophotoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIAL1605’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIAL1605’ and a comparison with the parentand closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—8.5 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 13.7 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Low to moderate.        -   Plant vigor.—Low to moderate.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 28 to 35 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop            time — Approximately 15 to 20 weeks to produce a marketable            plant in a 7 cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Aloe aristata pests            and diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; low            tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;            no main branches or lateral branches present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 90 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Thick, succulent leaves which are ovate to narrow            ovate.        -   Dimensions.—6.8 cm long, 2.9 cm wide, and 0.7 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Slightly concave.        -   Attitude.—Slightly curved upward.        -   Apex.—Acute to broadly acute with a caudate tip.        -   Base.—Broad cuneate.        -   Margin.—Dentate; not undulated or lobed.        -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous and moderately covered            with papillae, each approximately 1.0 mm high and 1.0 mm in            diameter.        -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous with papillae more or            less arranged in axial rows; papilla are approximately 1.0            mm high and 1.0 mm in diameter.        -   Luster, adaxial surface.—Slightly to moderately glossy.        -   Luster, abaxial surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to            RHS 139A, and fading to yellow-green towards the base,            nearest to RHS N144D; leaf moderately covered with papillae            which are colored greyed-green, in between RHS 191D and            192D. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — In between green,            RHS NN137A, and yellow-green, RHS 147A; fading to            yellow-green towards the base, in between RHS 144A and 144B;            leaf moderately to densely covered with papillae which are            colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 192D. Mature foliage,            adaxial surface — In between green, RHS NN137A, and            yellow-green, RHS 147A; fading to yellow-green towards the            base, nearest to RHS 147D, and suffused with greyed-green,            RHS 194C; outermost tip of the apex is greyed-red, in            between RHS 180C and 180D; leaf moderately covered with            papillae which are colored greyed-green, in between RHS 191D            and 192D. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — In between            green, RHS NN137A, and yellow-green, RHS 147A; fading            lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS 147C, and suffused            with greyed-green, nearest to RHS 192C; outermost tip of the            apex is greyed-red, in between RHS 180C and 180D; leaf            moderately to densely covered with papillae, more or less            arranged in axial rows, which are colored greyed-green, in            between RHS 191D and 192D.        -   Venation.—No venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIAL1605’ differ from the parent, unnamedplant of Aloe aristata, in the following characteristics described inTable 1 below.

TABLE 1 Unnamed plant of Characteristic ‘AMIAL1605’ Aloe aristataAbundance of Fewer leaves in the More leaves in the rosette. foliage.rosette. Leaf apex. Acute to broadly acute Narrowly acute with a withshorter caudate tip. caudate tip. Leaf width. Approximately 1.5 timesNarrower than wider than the parent. ‘AMIAL1605’. General colorationDark green. Green to yellow green and of mature foliage. suffused withgreyed-green.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIAL1605’ differ from the commercialvariety, Aloe ‘Green Pearl’ (not patented in the United States; EuropeanUnion CPVO grant EU18402), in the following characteristics described inTable 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘AMIAL1605’ ‘Green Pearl’ Growth habit. Basalrosette with innermost Basal rosette with whorls of juvenile foliageinnermost whorls of appearing to be more juvenile foliage appearingloosely held than those of to be more tightly held. ‘Green Pearl’. Leafattitude, Foliage has a more relaxed Erect. juvenile foliage. attitudewhen compared to ‘Green Pearl’. Leaf thickness. Thicker than the ‘GreenThinner than Pearl’. ‘AMIAL1605’. Mature foliage; Prominent whitepapillae. Nearly void of papillae. occurrence of papillae.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Aloe aristataplant named ‘AMIAL1605’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.